LETTER: Council was elected on a mandate of change

I am writing to respond to the recent letter from Mr. Dennis Clark, former director of corporate administration for the District of Mission. As mayor for the District of Mission, I always welcome feedback from residents and businesses in our community. My door is always open and I will meet with anyone who asks for an appointment. The same can be said for our chief administrative officer (CAO), Ken Bjorgaard.

Unfortunately, Mr. Clark did not choose to get in touch with either me or Mr. Bjorgaard. Instead, he chose to air his opinion in the Mission Record, without first obtaining the facts.

Here are the facts. This council was elected on a change mandate. We have worked diligently, through the CAO, to address the serious and significant financial challenges that the district was facing. Through his leadership, Mr. Bjorgaard has affected this change and is building a stronger, more financially sustainable organization.

Every decision has been based on the best interests of the taxpayer, who cannot afford year over year tax increases. We are successfully reducing our debt, which will enable us to reinvest that money into more community initiatives such as replacing aging infrastructure. By “living within our means” today, I believe that Mr. Bjorgaard and this council have created a path for Mission that will lead us toward a very bright future.

Mr. Clark retired nearly four years ago. Much has changed in the organization since that time, and more than anyone, he should understand that issues are never as straightforward as they might seem.

Yes, there has been change. And yes, change can be difficult. How one responds to change will be different for each individual. However, I am confident that this organization can continue to mange these changes effectively.

Employees at the District of Mission all work exceptionally hard for this community, and I am continually amazed at the extent of their dedication. I believe in finding the best people for the jobs available, and support Mr. Bjorgaard in his attempt to do so. The District of Mission is the employer of choice in this community, and will continue to be so as we recruit talented and hard-working people to join us on this journey.

I would invite Mr. Clark and any other citizen to contact me for a conversation about how we are going to get there. Ultimately, this council will stand on its record on Nov. 15, where the community will decide if we have done our best for the taxpayers of Mission.